Do animals think? Are they creative? Can they remember things that happened in the past? Do they learn and plan ahead? Are they aware of what they're doing--or are they just programmed by the built-in patterns of behavior called instinct?

Award-winning science author Margery Facklam offers some unexpected answers to these and other questions about animal intelligence. She looks at how lions plan a hunt, how crows and ravens solve practical problems, and how guide dogs practice "intelligent disobedience." She also introduces young readers to Darrell, a chimp who is learning fractions; Alex, a parrot who uses the English language to demonstrate original, logical thinking; Ruby, and elephant who creates abstract art with brushes and paints; and many more remarkable creatures.

Facklam's fresh, lively text and Pamela Johnson's superbly detailed pencil drawings provide young readers with an intriguing look at how scientists study animal intelligence inthe laboratory and in the wild. The findings are often surprising--and always fascinating.

• The Smartest Animals on the Planet: Extraordinary Tales of the Natural World's Cleverest Creatures